The Walking Dead: 5 most award-worthy performances of Danai Gurira

2. Michonne Loses Her Best Friend

Season 8, episode 9 “Honor”

Losing Carl was rough for The Walking Dead fans, but it was excruciating for Michonne and of course for Rick. Michonne and Carl had a very special connection. They bonded in “Clear” when Michonne refused to let Carl go off alone and opened up about the loss of her son Andre when Carl talked about Lori.

Throughout the ensuing seasons, Carl and Michonne were best friends and Michonne was the combination of an older sister, mother, and friend that Carl needed to keep him grounded in the post-apocalypse world. Michonne understood Carl and saw him more clearly than Rick could, because Rick always saw Carl as a little kid even though he stopped being a little kid when he had to put his mother down.

For Michonne, the ultimate fighter, to be forced to sit by and watch as Carl slowly faded away with no way to stop what was happening was agony for her. But she wouldn’t leave his side and she wouldn’t give in to her grief. She stayed present in every remaining moment that she had with him. Danai’s powerful performance made our heartbreak worse, but beautifully portrayed the strength and grace that Michonne has. Michonne wouldn’t leave her son, and she wouldn’t leave Rick in his grief either.